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Chapter 27
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in What Maisie Knew, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Innocence and Corruption
Money and Society
Hypocrisy
Perspective and Understanding
Summary
Analysis
The beautiful, well-dressed Mrs. Beale is the center of attention at the hotel lunch. During their meal she preoccupies herself with Mrs. Wix, almost entirely ignoring Maisie. Maisie soon realizes what Mrs. Beale is up to: she is staking her claim on Maisie. The three of them go for a walk, but Maisie’s enthusiasm for the French cityscape is dampened by the fact that Mrs. Beale has far more to say about it than she does, since Mrs. Beale has already spent time abroad.
After closely observing her stepmother and considering Mrs. Wix’s arguments, Maisie begins to see Mrs. Beale in a new light and realizes that she is in fact trying to manipulate both Maisie and Mrs. Wix. Maisie also begins to feel increasingly competitive toward Mrs. Beale, as she realizes that they are both fighting for Sir Claude’s affection.
Active
Themes
Later, when the two of them are alone, Mrs. Beale tells Maisie she is going to divorce Beale. Maisie asks if she will marry Sir Claude. Mrs. Beale says yes, once Sir Claude divorces Ida. Maisie responds that neither of them will successfully get their divorce. When Mrs. Beale asks how she knows, Maisie admits that Mrs. Wix told her so. Mrs. Beale says Mrs. Wix is mistaken and asks Maisie to help her convince Mrs. Wix to accept her. When Maisie returns to her room, she asks Mrs. Wix if Mrs. Beale has convinced her to stay on with her instead of Sir Claude. Mrs. Wix is embarrassed by the question and admits she has considered the possibility, but when Maisie presses her on the subject, they both declare their loyalty to Sir Claude.
Active
Themes
